. Parliament recognises the country's state of skills and that South Africa faces challenges of serious skills shortages in a number of critical fields. The Committee also acknowledges the work of government and other stakeholders in addressing these challenges. Furthermore, the Committee recognises that due to these challenges, certain employers actively recruit and hire foreign nationals to circumvent specific labour regulations such as minimum wages and other related regulations, as these foreign workers are desperate to accept below minimum standard employment conditions. As a result, South African citizens are regularly victims of this preference for non- citizens, which leaves them desperate for employment. As a result of this trend, the Committee intends to hold a joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to address issues relating to immigration and ensure that labour policy is aligned to immigration policies.